This work is a wink to the hyper realistic sculpture of the Pop Art artist Duane Hanson ”The Supermarket lady” (1969-1970).
In the Muslim religion, the “houris” are beautiful virgin women promised to men in Heaven. During the civil war in Soudan, the Islamist regime of Khartoum sent young people to fight in the South of the country. They promised 72 “houris” to men who will die as a martyr. In the same way, young kamikazes are sent to immolate themselves, by islamist groups who promise them “houris”.
The Islamists throw the logic of the consumption society on the idea of Paradise. Indeed, in this context where woman is considered as a good available to man, God is assimilated to a supplier of consumer goods.